The Big Cheese with Nick Gouin
We chat to the Hotel Manager of The Blackman.
The great thing about my job is… I’ve been given the opportunity to work for a family of owners who are innovative and allow us to be creative each and every day. This has produced a group of hotels that are colourful, unique, and apart from the odd exception, attracts an enthusiast traveller. It’s a fun place to work, with a team who enjoy the odd bit of banter.
The challenge for industry is… To continue to make it a desirable one to be a part of. With so many other options out there for people, for example; Air BnB, we need to have the best possible staff within our businesses to ensure we can deliver what we promise. Hotel’s can provide some of life’s great memories for a guest. Usually a large chunk of that memory centres around an encounter you have with a staff member who has made you feel special.
My greatest achievement is… Yet to come. Continually pushing myself and the team to improve is a great motivator.
The biggest thing in MICE this year will be… Watching the battle between Melbourne and Sydney really heat up.
I try to relax by… Going to Bunnings, before getting outside and into my veggie patch, followed by a cold beer to admire my handy work.
I don’t understand why… People think it is ok to talk on their phones while you are checking them in or out of the hotel.
My favourite venue is… The MCG. It’s such an iconic part of Melbourne and attracts so many people to the city. It always delivers a great experience.
I’ve always wanted to travel to… I have two. Travel to the UK to follow an entire series of The Ashes cricket tour. Or follow the Triple Crown of horse racing in the United States. I’m a big sports fan, so travel that involves sport is a real winner for me.
I am scared to death of… Having one of my crazy dreams come true.
I can’t live without… My family, friends and WhatsApp.
I really wish I had… A teleportation machine.
If I could invite four people to a dinner party, they’d be… Tom Sutherland, Dallas Byars, Peter Derbyshire and David Gunning.
For anyone starting out in the industry one piece of advice I’d give would be … Find yourself a good GM and follow them to where you want to go. Second to this would be to go and work regionally. Never under estimate the amount that you will learn.
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